stvaughn

My 1960 has what I believe is a 230 hp 283. The casting numbers and dates are correct for the build date of the car but the engine has been rebuilt in the past and the vin pad does not have the vin derivative. The engine is tired and I want to have a good dependable engine in the car as I intend to drive it to events. (300 mile trips) It's a 4 speed car with 3.70 rear gear and I would like to keep the original look as much as practicable.

If I rebuild it, I would like a little more power. Is it worth rebuilding? What kind of mods will give noticeable and worthwhile gains with the 283?

Or should I just buy a GM 350/290 hp crate motor and stick it in.

waltonb123

If you like to drive the car a lot then bag and store the 283 and go with the crate.

steampunk c1

Pull it down and check it out 283 are a very under rated motor you can make them go real sweet.

MikeM

You can put a rebuilt 327 in the car in place of the 283 and not only keep the stock appearance (if you don't look real close), you can pick up a large amount of power using even the four barrel carb that is on your current engine.

MCMLXI

I rebuilt my 283.

About the only thing changed from stock spec's was using a CompCams 270H cam and enlarged the intake valves a bit.

When done, it dyno'd at 303hp - it is now very reliable, runs great, looks stock and has plenty of power for me.

stvaughn

1961,
Was yours a base 230 HP engine to begin with? What compression ratio did you end up with?

Steve

steampunk c1

When I rebuilt my 283 I shaved the heads about .025 and used thin tin gaskets and worked at 9.4 .283 is in a 61 impala bubbletop and with a w55 toyota 5 speed and 3.70 rear it will turn 15.6 last time out. It does have a big cam and mild head work but it pulls hard for little motor.

5869vette

If your 283 is rebuildable, it will make plenty of power.




This 270 horse 4 speed with 370 posi is fast, fun and looks great.
Go for it.

MCMLXI

If you care to read it, here is a link to what I did with mine a few years ago - and it still runs great today.

Kevin

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-pictures.html

John S 1961

Zz4

stvaughn

Thanks 1961, you HP/TQ numbers look like what I am looking for. What CR did you end up with? What octane are you using?

Steve

MCMLXI

The compression ratio was in the 10-to-1 range.
I use 92 octane pump gas without any octane boost or additives.

I was tempted to use all of cool parts in the Jegs catalog, but opted to use the Chevy 270hp recipe - with only one aftermarket item - the cam - but even that is pretty close in specs to the 097 fuelie/270hp cam.

I am pleased with the results - and it feels right to have a 283 under the hood.

Kevin

cv67

Gm crates are pretty reliable youll love the torque the 350 gives
I wouldnt waste time trying to build up a 283 unless it was for nostalgia racing.

Get the biggest arm (stroke) you can in there youll be worlds ahead....better heads/roller cam a bonus!

65tripleblack

That's it?
No more suggestions?